LENGTH OF HOSPITALIZATION OF INTESTINAL INFECTION IN NORTH MACEDONIA

Abstract

Our aim was to investigate the characteristics of hospitalized intestinal infection patients with special focus on the factors that are influencing the length of hospitalization. We used the records of the clinic of infectious disease, department of intestinal infection for a period of 3 years 2015-2018 and used all available hospital records in the clinic’s data base for all hospitalized patients. In a period of 3 years 988 patients with gastrointestinal infection were admitted in our department. The diagnoses were A09 (Infectious gastroenteritis) 39%, A08 (Viral and other specified intestinal infections) 20%, A04.9 (Bacterial intestinal infection, unspecified) 19% and other (32%) which included A02.* (Salmonella) 4%. The mean age of the patients was 12.3 years whereas the median was 6.00 years with a range from 0.1 to 86. The mean duration of hospitalization was 6.82 days (range 2-18). In the linear regression analyses of duration of hospitalization, we found positive univariate correlation with number of comorbidities, age, fever, number of stools, blood pH, C-reactive protein and Salmonella infection (A02.*), whereas negative univariate correlation we found with vomiting, blood oxygen saturation and viral intestinal infection (A08). In the multivariate linear model, as independent predictors of duration of hospitalization number of comorbidities, age, number of stool, C-reactive protein and Salmonella infections were found. Many clinical variables can impact the length of hospitalisation for patients with intestinal infections. Knowing these aspects can assist physicians in optimising patient care and reducing expenses. To produce evidence-based guidelines for the management of these patients, additional research is required.